Baram and Tioumentsev Set to Make Junior Grand Prix Debut, Working Toward Senior Debut at U.S. Championships

Sonia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev became the 2022 U.S. junior champions in their first season together.
But this season still promises more firsts for the talented teens, including competing in their first Junior Grand Prix event and making their debut as seniors at the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
 
When thinking back on their debut as partners, they feel proud of last season, and are hoping to build on their successes this season.  
 
"We were working really hard to achieve our goals, one of which was to place as high as we could at the U.S. Championships. In the end, I think I think we were very happy with our results and are looking forward to this coming season," Tioumentsev said. "We're just going to keep training, keep pushing hard, try our best in every event and see what the outcome is."
 
They started off the 2022-23 season well, competing in two competitions locally, including the Glacier Falls Summer Classic competition in Anaheim, California, as seniors.
 
Next up is the Junior Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Aug. 31 - Sept. 3.
 
"In the short program, I hope to score 63 or above, and in the long program, just to execute my triple throw," Baram said.
 
"Overall, our main goal is to just go out there and do our best," Tioumentsev added. "[This is] our first Junior Grand Prix, so our mindset is just to stay in the present moment, do our best and enjoy the experience because it's not every day you get to go to a Junior Grand Prix."
 
In addition to competing in pairs, Baram also intends to compete in singles, as she did last year. She placed fourth in the junior women's event at Glacier Falls and hopes to compete at the U.S. Championships as a singles skater and pairs skater, an impressive multi-task.
 
"I already competed two competitions, pairs and singles, so I'm starting to improve my stamina," Baram said. "I'm now a junior in singles, and I want to qualify for the U.S. Championships again this year."
 
Part of their success is no doubt due to their coaching and the team atmosphere at Great Park Ice in Irvine, California. Their coaches include legendary world and Olympic competitors Jenni Meno-Sand and Todd Sand, and three-time U.S. champion and Olympic medalist Chris Knierim. They also work with their parents, Anna Baram and Anna Tarasova, who serve as additional pairs of coaching eyes.
 
Their rink serves as one of the unofficial "hubs" of pairs skating activity, and they are surrounded by elite skaters such as 2022 world champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier. Being surrounded by such skating greatness continually inspires them.
 
"Just being able to see and train with these higher-level athletes that have gone through much more than us is inspiring; we learned a lot of lessons from them," Tioumentsev said. "We're all very supportive of each other. [And] that's probably the biggest highlight of training in Irvine, is the immense support. Everyone is giving, whether it's a coach or follow skater. We all learn from each other, and we all take those lessons."
 
Pairs have been something of a learning curve for the skaters. Tioumentsev only switched to pairs exclusively in 2020 and competed at the 2021 U.S. Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada with his previous partner, Aleksandra Prudsky.
 
He was initially "really into singles skating" and struggled at first to make the adjustment.
 
"I think it took a while for me to actually start liking pairs when I first started. I've been doing pairs for approximately seven years now, and when I was skating singles, I started transitioning over to pairs more and more. Now, I enjoy it a lot. It's really fun having another person right next to you on the ice."
 
Baram only started pairs a few years ago as well, but unlike her partner, liked it right away.
 
"I love pairs because it's fun, and I love being up in the air," she enthused.

Since she still competes in singles, she also thinks the diversity of elements in pairs makes a welcome contrast.
 
"In singles, it is more difficult to be jumping for most of your elements; in pairs, it is a little bit easier for the girls to have lift elements as well – you just need to be strong for them," she said.
 
One part of adjusting to pairs skating that is not always easy, especially for singles skaters, is the interaction between partners on the ice. The best pair skaters in history are the ones who can establish a relationship not only with the audience but with each other, and demonstrate that in their performances. The team recognizes this and feels they have improved their interaction on the ice.
 
"I think the biggest lesson we learned from last season is that we were skating to the crowd, and I feel like this season, we have matured more, so we are skating more for each other, smiling more for each other, rather than [just for the crowd," Baram explained.
 
"[Our goal] is definitely to have more of an interaction between each other on the ice, and skate more as a team," Tioumentsev agreed.
 
While they remain ambitious, they also try to stay present and not let their many goals overwhelm them.
 
"A lesson we learned from last season is to just go for everything and see how it ends up, and if it doesn't end well, then we will change what needs to be changed," Tioumentsev said. "Overall, we just want to perform and do our best."
 
Most of all, they realize that none of this would be possible if not for the support they have received, and they appreciate it all.
 
"We just want to thank everyone, especially U.S. Figure Skating, our coaches, our family and our friends who support us, push us and help us achieve our goals."
 
Baram and Tioumentsev will be competing at the JGP Czech Skate in Ostrava, Czech Republic August 31 - September 3, and can be watched on the ISU's Junior Grand Prix YouTube page.